Breastfeeding Positions
You can breastfeed your baby in many different positions. You will probably begin by trying the common holds that you have seen or read about. Then, after you become more confident, you will find the positions that are the most comfortable and work the best for you and your baby.
Some breastfeeding positions you can try include:
- The Laid-Back Nursing Position
- The Cradle Hold
- The Cross-Cradle Hold
- The Football Hold
- The Side-Lying Position
It's also a good idea to alternate positions. Using different holds will allow the baby to more effectively drain the different areas of your breasts. This will help prevent plugged ducts and some of the other common problems of breastfeeding.
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- Breastfeeding After A Cesarean Section
- Nursing A Premature Baby
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Try Cabbage Leaves to Treat Engorgement
Engorgement is a common problem of breastfeeding. It can sometimes occur during the first few weeks of breastfeeding when your milk supply is adjusting. You can also develop hard, swollen breasts if you miss a feeding, you have an overabundant milk supply, you wean your baby too quickly or anytime that your breasts become overfull with breast milk.
To treat the discomfort of engorgement, you can try using cabbage leaves. Clean, raw, chilled cabbage leaves placed into your bra or held onto your breasts as cold compresses may help to reduce pain and relieve swelling.
Read more: Cabbage Leaves
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Nursing Pads
Nursing pads, or breast pads are helpful if you experience leaking breasts. Reusable or disposable nursing pads can be placed into your bra to absorb breast milk and prevent embarrassing stains on your clothes.
Read More: Nursing Pads
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What Not To Say To A Breastfeeding Mother
Sometimes relatives and friends share advice or opinions about breastfeeding that can be hurtful or incorrect. Most of the time they mean well but their concern may come out sounding insensitive and judgemental. Comments like "Bottle feeding is easier" or "Isn't he a little too old to be breastfeeding?" can be upsetting to a nursing mom. There are just some things breastfeeding women do not need to hear. Here is of list of 10 Things Not To Say To A Nursing Mother.
Has anyone ever said anything to you that you wish they would have kept to themselves? Share your story or let us know what you think people shouldn't say to nursing mothers.
There are many other situations when it's easy to say the wrong thing. Christine Luff, About.com's Guide to Running and Jogging, has put together a great list of articles from the About.com Health Guides to help us all avoid putting our foot in our mouth. It covers a wide variety of topics including What Not To Say To Someone On A Diet, What Not To Say To Someone With Breast Cancer, What Not to Say at a Funeral, and many more. Take a look at the entire list in Christine's article What Not To Say About Health Issues.
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- Breastfeeding Beyond One Year
- Does Breastfeeding Cause Saggy Breasts?
- Bonding With A Breastfed Baby For Partners
- Caffeine and Breastfeeding
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Breastfeeding Your Sick Baby
Breastfeeding can help protect your child from illness, but it doesn't completely prevent sickness from occuring. Your baby may still catch a cold, get an ear infection or develop a stomach virus even though you breastfeed.
When it does happen, nursing your sick baby can be a challenge, but keep on breastfeeding. The antibodies in your breast milk can help your baby fight the illness and get better faster. Nursing provides ideal nutrition while keeping your child hydrated. It's also a great source of comfort for your sick baby.
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- Composition of Breast Milk
- Benefits of Breastfeeding For Baby
- Breastfeeding an Older Child
- Is Your Baby Getting Enough Milk?
- Newborn Urination
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Happy New Year 2013!
As we begin a new year I hope all of your days are filled with health, joy and happiness. I wish everyone a very happy 2013!
Breastfeeding and Health:
- Exercise and Breastfeeding
- Taking Care of the Breastfeeding Mother
- How to Care for Your Nursing Breasts
- Nutritional Needs While Breastfeeding
- How Breastfeeding Benefits Mothers
- Baby's Benefits
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Photo © One Way Stock
Breastfeeding And The Holidays
The holidays are such a wonderful and stressful time of year. Last minute shopping, traveling or preparing for company can be overwhelming. It can also interfere with breastfeeding. Stress can decrease your milk supply and breastfeeding while you are traveling may be uncomfortable. But hang in there, you will survive breastfeeding through the holidays. And, once your last minute preparations are done, or you make it to your destination, you can relax and enjoy spending time with family and friends.
Happy Holidays!
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Photo credit © mel5455/Flickr
Breast Milk Storage Options
Breast milk storage bags and containers are available to hold and store your expressed breast milk. Different containers are suited for different types of storage. If you are planning to keep your milk in the refrigerator to use right away or within a few days, you can express directly into a baby bottle. That makes it much more convenient when it comes time to feed your baby.
For long term storage in a freezer, use storage bags and containers made to withstand freezing and thawing. Ordinary plastic sandwich bags, bottle liners and baby food jars are not designed to stand up to those conditions and could break or become contaminated. Use breast milk storage bags, plastic breast milk storage bottles, breast milk trays or glass containers that are safe to use in the freezer and specifically manufactured for the storage of breast milk or food.
Related Information:
- How to Freeze and Thaw Breast Milk
- Using a Breast Pump
- Video: How to Pump and Store Breast Milk
- Video: Storing Breast Milk
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Human Milk Banks
A human milk bank collects breast milk from carefully screened donors. The milk is tested, pasteurized, stored and sent out to hospitals or individuals in need. Donor breast milk is available by prescription only and can be prescribed for preemies, babies with failure to thrive, infants with severe allergies or intolerance to formula, patients recovering from gastric or intestinal surgery and many other conditions. Adopted babies can also benefit from donor breast milk.
If you have an overabundant milk supply and would like to consider becoming a donor, contact the nearest milk bank to see if you qualify.
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Breastfeeding and Breast Surgery
Many women of childbearing age undergo breast surgery. The ability to breastfeed after breast surgery depends on the type of surgery and how it is performed. Any surgery that interferes with the milk ducts or the amount of breast tissue in your breast will have a greater impact on breastfeeding.
Talk to your doctor and your baby's doctor if you have had breast surgery. While some women will be able to produce a healthy milk supply after surgery others may not. The pediatrician will monitor your baby's weight to be sure that he or she is getting enough milk.
If you do have a limited supply you may need to use a formula supplement or donor breast milk, but you can still breastfeed. Any amount of breast milk that your baby receives from you will be beneficial.
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